Summary (tl;dr)

Californians recently voted in the statewide direct primary election on June 2, 2026, with early results showing former Health Secretary Xavier Becerra (D) and conservative commentator Steve Hilton (R) leading in the highly contested gubernatorial race to succeed term-limited Governor Gavin Newsom.

Essential Background

California operates under a "top-two" primary system, where all candidates, regardless of party affiliation, appear on a single primary ballot. The two candidates who receive the most votes then advance to the general election. This system often leads to competitive primaries, particularly in a state with a large and diverse political landscape like California. Incumbent Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom is ineligible to seek re-election due to term limits, leaving an open and crowded field for the gubernatorial race.

The Full Story

On June 2, 2026, California held its statewide direct primary election, attracting significant attention, especially to the gubernatorial contest among a crowded field of 61 candidates. Early returns indicate that Democrat Xavier Becerra, who previously served as U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary and California's Attorney General, and Republican Steve Hilton, a conservative commentator endorsed by former President Trump, are currently leading the race for governor. Democrat Tom Steyer, a billionaire climate activist who largely self-funded his campaign, is trailing in third place in early vote counts. Other notable Democratic contenders included former U.S. Representative Katie Porter and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, while Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco was another prominent Republican. These early results are crucial as only the top two vote-getters, regardless of party, will advance to the general election scheduled for November 3, 2026. Ballots postmarked by June 2 can still arrive as late as June 9 and be counted, with official results expected to be certified by the Secretary of State by July 10, 2026.

Why It Matters

The outcome of California's primary election is highly significant for the state and holds potential national implications. The race to replace Governor Gavin Newsom is taking place at a critical time for California, which faces pressing issues such as a high cost of living, energy prices, wildfire risks, and an unstable state budget. The Democratic Party typically holds a strong advantage in California, but the fragmented Democratic field in this primary initially raised concerns among party leaders about the possibility of two Republican candidates advancing to the general election. Despite this, the gubernatorial seat is generally considered likely to remain with Democrats in November due to their significant voter registration advantage. Additionally, the primary included races for U.S. House seats, which will help determine which party controls Congress during President Trump's final two years in office. The choices made by California voters in this primary will shape the state's direction for years to come and could set a precedent for future elections.

Geographic Location

• Sacramento, Sacramento County, California, United States (Governor Gavin Newsom issued a proclamation for the primary election)
• Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States (Xavier Becerra addressed supporters)
• Huntington Beach, Orange County, California, United States (Steve Hilton addressed supporters)
• Berkeley, Alameda County, California, United States (Tom Steyer addressed reporters)